Engine-starting apparatus



L. M. WOLFFSOHN (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME L. M. WOOLSON). ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1917.

1,349,866. Patented Aug. 17,1620.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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INVENTOR L4: kw; fim A L. M. WOLFFSOHN (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME I M. WOOLSON).

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1917.

1,349,866. I Pat nted Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR LN N. 6% kmaysw STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

LZ'UTQ'EL M. VJ'GLFFSGHN, NOW BY JUDIGEAL CHANGE SF NAME LIONEL M. W'QGLSON,

0F UNIGIS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE, BY MESKQE QSSIL'GNMEN'ZS, BIJUR MOTQR ENGINE STAR'lLIHE: AEPATi-ATUS.

Application filed March 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1;, LEOXEL M. ,VoLrr- SOHN, a citizen of the -United States, and a resident of the town of Union, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Engine-Starting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting apparatus and with regard to the more specific features thereof, to means for starting internal combustion engines.

One of the objects of this invention is to simplify the construction and render more certain and reliable the action of engine starting apparatus, in which power transmitting parts are moved toward or away from operative relation without dependence on the source of starting power.

Another object is to provide durable means of the above type for etiiciently securing proper application of the starting power under all conditions of operation.

Another object is to provide dependable and simple means of the above type, automatic in action, for rendering inactive the source of starting power at proper times.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention, Figure 1 is a top view of the starting apparatus, partly in section, showing the parts in inactive relation, parts to the right of the break inthe shifting rod being shown in side view to better reveal the construction.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l. with the power transmitting parts cooperating and the switch in open position. Figs. 3 and a are detailed views partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the starting switch closed.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the Specification of Letters Patent.

.i atented slugs 2 1920.

1917. Serial No. 153,359.

teeth of the gears in butting relation and the apparatus biased to relieve this objection.

Fig. I is a fragmentary sectional view of the fly wheel.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

lieferring now to the drawings, there is shown a part of a crank case 1 to which is secured, preferably by a known form of flange mount 2, the starting motor 3. A driving gear or pinion l is mounted on the extended armature shaft 5 and in slid-- able relation thereto, for cooperation with flywheel gear (3 having its teeth chamfered as shown, the extended portion of shaft 5 being formed of any desired non-circular cross-section preferably ribbed as shown to prevent rotation of the pinion relative thereto.

For moving the driving pinion 4 into cooperation with liywheel gear (5, the manually operated shifting rod 7 is employed. This rod is slid-able within sleeve portion 8 preferably integral with crank case 1 and has preferably an integral shifting fork 9 extending at an angle thereto, the prongs of which fit preferably in a peripheral groove 10 of pinion The shifting fork 9 has preferably integral shoulders 11 adjoining the rod portion 7 for cooperation with a stop 12, preferably at the inner end of sleeve 8 for effectively limiting the movement of the pinion 4 when it is in meshing relation with the flywheel gear 6. The shifting rod 7 has hinged thereto at 12% a link portion H which is under the control of shifting arm 15 having preferably an integral clevis'16 straddling the link which passes through a transverse opening in clevis pin 17 journaled in said clevis. Extending between a washer 18 in contact with the clevis pin 17 and encircling link 14, near its outer end, there is a coil shifter spring 19 for yieldingly transmitting shifting impulse in a direc-tion to compress said spring, said spring being retained on said rod by washer 2O limited against outward movement by nut 21 threaded on the extreme end of said link. It is to be understood that the shifter spring might effectively be arranged to transmit an till ill)

impulse in a direction to expand it, but there are particular advantages to the specific construction shown and described, Rigidly mounted on the link 14 preferably by being pinned thereto, thereis a stop collar 22 shown in contact with the side of pin 17 opposite spring 19 in Figs. 1 and 2. The shifting arm 15is preferably secured at the end opposite the clevis 16 to a rock shaft 33 which may be turned by pedal 34: secured to said rockshaft. it is'to be understood that instead of a foot operated, a hand operated element might be employed, and in the following I use the generic term manually to embrace both foot and hand operation. The term pedal used in certain of the claims it is to be understood is not to be restrictively confined to footoperation but is to embrace equivalent manual operating means.

A pin 35 extending preferably from near the center of shifting arm 15 is disposed in elongated opening 36 in a socket element 23 within which the operating rod 24 of a single contact starting switch 25 is preferably held in screw-threaded relation. The term singlecontact switch is employed to designate a switch having a single circuit closing position, as distinguished from one having an additional contact or contacts for closing the circuit through resistance, for example. The starting switch is shown with the usual form of bridging contacts 26 and inclosure 27, which need not be described in further detail as the specific construction of this switch is not a part of my invention.

A release element preferably in the form of coil spring 28 is shown connected between clevis 16 of shifting arm 15 and fin 29 integral with crank case 1.

The flywheel gear preferably consists of a ring 6 of hardened. steel secured by screws 30 in peripheral recess 31 at on side of the main body of the flywheel 32, which main body may be of cast iron as usual. By this expedient, the life of the flywheel is considerably lengthened, and in case of injury to the relatively strong gear ring, due to the action of the pinion 4c, this ring may be readily replaced without discarding the main body of the flywheel.

The operation of the construction described is as follows:

To start the engine, pedal 34 is depressed causing rotation of rock shaft 33 and movement of shifting arm 15 about the rock shaft as a center. The clevis pin 17 is thus caused to press against washer 18 in a direction to compress coil spring 19, but no material compression takes place at this time because the said spring reacts against washer 20 to move link 14 and with it shifting rod 7 and the shifting fork 9 forming a part thereof to displace the pinion i into full meshing relation with gear ring 6 when incense shoulders 11 abut stop 12 to limit further inglvement of the pinion and the shifting ro lln the operation thus far described, the switch 26 has been moved by shifting arm 15 toward closing relation. but is still open as shown in Fig. 2. Further movement of the pedal 34% causes pin 17 to slide on red 14 effectively compressing spring 19, since the shifting rod is limited against further movement. The starting switch is therefore closed as shown in Fig. 5, and the motor starts to crank the engine. During operation of the starting pedal, thus far described as is clear from the drawing, release spring 28 will be stretched as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. As soon as the engine starts under its own power the operator takes his foot oil the pedal whereupon shifter spring 19 and release spring 28 act to rapidly move the clevis from the position shown in Fig. 5 toward contact with stop collar 22. When said contact occurs the parts are restored to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the switch open and the gears still in mesh. Because of the kinetic energy acquired b the moving parts by the time that the pin 17 strikes collar 22, the shifting rod is given an effective jolt to loosen it from the flywheel gear to allow said as release spring 28 to move pinion a to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Should it occur that teeth of pinion l and of gear 6 meet in end to end relation upon depressing of the pedal 34-, proper 1M9 meshing is enforced by the following method; the teeth of the pinion in end to end relation with those of the flywheel gear limiting the extent of the motion of shifting rod 7- further depression of pedal 3t, 1% after said butting occurs, will cause pin 17 to slide along link 14 causing effective compression of shifter spring 19 and closure of switch 25, all as shown in Fig. 6. The motor now starts turning and when the teeth 11a of the pinion are thereby brought into proper ahnement with those of the flywheel gear, shifter spring 19 expands to draw the link 14, the shifting rod, its shifting fork and with the pinion into full mesh with 315 the gear ring. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 5 and from this stage the operation proceeds as described above.

By my invention it is seen that I move the gears into cocperation and close the 120 starting switch by a single manual operation, and that T have provided a lost motion connection in the form of shifters ring 19 between the driving pinion 4 an the switch 25, which permits the switch to close 125 at an opportune time, that is, after the motio n of the driving pinion is arrested.

in the operation of motor vehicles, it may sometimes happen that the driving pinion of the electric starter becomes so tightly we intermeshed with the flywheel gear that even with the exertion of great effort on the part of the driver demeshing is not effected. This may occur, among other reasons, when the engine stalls on a sandy road, and the starting pedal is then depressed with the clutch thrown, or in some cases even with the clutch open when the effort of the starting motor being insufiicient to drive the entire car, will spend itself in causing an extremely tight interlock between the driving pinion and the'flywheel gear. If a lost motion connection were not provided between the switch and the driving pinion, it is clear that in case of this interlocking, the battery would continually send its current through the motor, until the gears are demeshed, or the battery is entirely drained. By providing a lost motion connection in the manner above described, the switch automatically opens as soon as the driver releases the pedal regardless of how tightly the gears may be intermeshed, where by undesirable draining of the battery, in case the gears should stick, is effectively avoided.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descrip tion or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor. a driving pinion connected thereto, means for shifting said pinion into mesh with said gear, said means including a yielding element, a switch means to throw power upon the idle motor after said gears come into contact with each other, a single operating member for effecting the actuation of both said shifting means and said switch means. and spring means for retracting said pinion and opening said switch, when said operating member is released.

2. The combination in an engine starter, of a-driven gear connected to an engine,a starting motor, a pinion connected to said motor, mechanism including a coil spring for shifting said pinion axially, said spring having an end shiftable with said pinion, both during meshing of the same with said gear and during disengagement from said gear, said shifting mechanism including a pedal operating upon the spring near the other end thereof, and switch means under control of said pedal for throwing power upon the idle motor after said pinion has commenced engaging said gear.

3. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a pinion connected to said motor, a switch means for throwing full power upon the idle motor, a singleoperat' ing member for shifting said pinion into mesh with said gear and for actuating said switch mechanism after said pin-ion has come into contact with said gear, a spring for transmitting the impulse from said operating member to said pinion, one end of said spring being movable with said pinion both in meshing and in demeshing, and a retracting spring for disengaging said pinion from said gear and for opening said switch.

4. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, an axially shif'table pinion connected to said motor, an operating member for controlling the shifting movements of said pinion toward and from said gear, a yielding connection between said operating member and said pinion, and switch means under control of said operating memher for throwing full power upon the idle motor when said operating member reaches a predetermined position.

5. The combination in an engine starter, or" a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a pinion connected to said motor, an operating member including a pedal for moving said pinion by a simple axial movement into mesh with said gear and a retracting spring for moving said pinion to idle position, a compression spring for transmitting the shifting impulse from said pedal to said pinion, and switching means under control of said operating memher for applying the full line voltage to the idle motor when said operating member reaches a predetermined position.

6. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine. a starting motor, a pinion connected to said motor, means for shifting said pinion into mesh with said gear, said means including,

a coil spring, switching means for throwing full power upon the idle motor, said switch being connected to said shifting means to operate after said pinion comes into contact with said gear, and a single coil retracting spring for rendering said switching means inoperative and for drawing said pinion out of engagement with said gear.

7. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving gear connected m net thereto, a pedal having a yielding connec tion to said pinion for shifting the same into mesh with said gear, a switch means for energizing said motor, and an arm connecting said pedal to said switch, said arm having a pivoted connection adjacent said pedal, and a guide adjacent said switch for directing the sliding movement of said arm for actuation of said switch means.

8. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving pinion connected thereto, means for shifting said pinion anially into and out of mesh with said gear, said means including a shifting fork associated with said pinion and a compression spring through which the shifting impulse is transmitted to said pinion, and a rigid stop for limiting the movement of said shifting fork when said pinion is in mesh, thereby preventing axial pressure upon said pinion.

9. lFhe combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving pinion connected thereto, an operating member for shifting said pinion into mesh with said gear, a forked member controlled by said operating member, a member straddled by said forked member, a compression spring coiled about said member for transmitting the shifting impulse from said forked member to said pinion, and switching means under control of said operating member for throwing full power upon the idle motor after said gears have commenced engaging each other.

10. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving pinion connected thereto, operating means for shifting said pinion in an axial direction into mesh with said gear, said means being constructed and arranged first to store upon butting suiiicient energy to produce meshing, and then to energize said motor for freeing said pinion thereby releasing said stored energy for effecting meshing.

11. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, switch means therefor, a driving pinion connected to said motor, a pedal for shifting said pinion axially into mesh with said gear, a spring interposed between said pedal and said pinion, an operating member for said switch, said member being arranged with respect to said pedal and said. switch to operate the latter after said pedal has stored sufiicient energy in said spring following butting contact of gears to snap said pinion into mesh, whereby, upon butting contact, said-spring will be distorted,said motor will thus be energized to move said pinion slightly to aline a tooth thereof with a space between teeth on said driven gear, said spring will snap said pinion into mesh, and normal. cranking will proceed.

12. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving pinion connected thereto, switching means for throwing full power upon the idle motor, a single operating member for controlling the shifting of said pinion axially into and out of mesh with said gear and for operating said switching means, a retracting spring for said operating member, and a compression spring interposed between said operating member and said pinion, whereby, in the event of a butt between said pinion and said gear, said operating member can complete its stroke against the compression of said Second spring for closing said switch and for stormg full energy in said retracting spring, thereby permitting said compression spring to freely snap said pinion into mesh.

13. The combination in an engine starter, of an electric motor, power transmitting devices between the motor and the engine including a driving pinion and a driven gear, an operating member for moving said pinion. into mesh with said gear, switching means for said motor adapted to be closed when said. gears are in contact with each other, and spring means brought into action upon release of said operating member to inherently open said switch before said gears are disengaged,

let. The combination in an engine starter, of an electric motor, power transmitting devices between the motor and the engine including a driving pinion and a driven gear, shifting means for moving said pinion into mesh with said gear, switching means for energizing said motor, a single pedal for operating both said shifting and said switching means, and a lost motion connection between the latter two elements to allow the switch to close after the shifting means has reached a limiting position.

15. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a driving pinion connected thereto, an axial guide for said pinion, a shifting member for moving said pinion along said guide into mesh with said gear, switching means for energizing said motor, a single pedal for operating both said shifting member and said switching means, means for preventing continued movement of said shifting member when said gears are in mesh, and a spring between said pedal and said shifting member to allow continued movement of the former for operating said switch after said shifting member is arrested,

. 16. The combination in an engine starter, of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a shaft element driventherefrom, a pinion mounted uponsaid shaft element for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement therealong, shifting means for moving said pinion along said shaft element into mesh with said gear, switching means for energizing said motor, a single pedal for-operating both said shifting and said switching means, said shifting means including a spring to permit continued movement of said pedal to close said switch after said pinion is in full mesh, and to open said switch after said pedal is released.

17. The combination in an engine starter, of an electric motor, power transmitting devices between the motor and the engine including a driving pinion and a driven gear, shifting means for moving said pinion into mesh with said gear, switching means for energizing said motor, a single pedal for operating both said shifting and said switch ing means, said shifting means including a spring to permit continued movement of said pedalto close said switch after the movement of said pinion is arrested, and to open said switch after said pedal is released, and a retracting spring to disconnect said pinion from said gear after said switch is opened.

18. The combination in an engine starter,

of a driven gear connected to an engine, a starting motor, a shaft element driven therefrom, a pinion mounted upon said shaft element for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement therealong, an operating member, switching means and yieldable pinion shifting means connected to said operating member, the parts being constructed and arranged to effect closure of the switch after the pinion has entered into full mesh with said gear or after it has butted against tooth ends thereof.

19. In engine starting apparatus, in combination, a geared fiy-wheel, a pinion adapted to cooperate therewith, a manually operated member, a rock shaft, and a shifting arm rigidly connected together, a shifting rod cooperating with said pinion, a link connected to said shifting rod, said arm being slidably connected to said link, and a stop on each side of said arm limiting its sliding movement with respect to said link in both directions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed m name to this'specification this 27th day ,of February, 1917.

LIONEL M. WOLFFSOHN. 

